CBS News fired longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley on Tuesday after a contentious exchange with the program's new executive producer.

Pelley, who has worked at CBS for more than three decades and previously anchored the "CBS Evening News," was dismissed hours after a staff meeting on Monday. In that meeting, he accused network editor in chief Bari Weiss of "murdering '60 Minutes'" and objected to recent changes at the program.

The clash followed last week's overhaul of "60 Minutes," which included the removal of executive producer Tanya Simon, her deputy, and two correspondents, Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. Nick Bilton, a former tech journalist, was named the new executive producer as part of the shake-up.

During the Monday gathering, Pelley questioned Bilton about the firings and stated that Bilton would "never be welcome here." The remarks leaked quickly and prompted an emergency response from CBS leadership.

Bilton later sent Pelley a termination letter citing "misconduct" and Pelley's "antipathy to the future of the show." The letter stated that Pelley's employment was ended for cause effective immediately.

CBS News did not issue an immediate public comment on the firing. Pelley had been scheduled to begin a summer vacation but remained in New York for the Tuesday meeting with management, which included Weiss, Bilton, CBS News president Tom Cibrowski, and a human resources representative.

The episode marks the latest turmoil at "60 Minutes," the network's highest-rated news program. Insiders described the Monday meeting as unusually heated, with some viewing Pelley's comments as a direct challenge to the new direction under Weiss and Bilton.